Finger nail glossifier



Patented Sept. 20, 1932.

umrao STATES PATENT OFFICE THEODORE F. BRADLEY, OF WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO ELLIS-FOSTER- COMPANY, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY FINGER JgAIL onossrr'mn No Drawing.

The object of the invention is to produce a glossifier having the following qualities: I 1. Quick-drying; so that when applled as a coating of suflicient thickness to secure a good gloss, drying will not require more than one minute. I

2. Perfume-responsive; that is, possessing .-:o slight or mild an odor it is possible to introduce very small proportions of costly perfuming oils such as oil of rose to'give-the composition a flowery edor or bouquet. Thus there are excluded in any substantial proportion from the glossifier vehicle all that class of nitrocellulose solvents comprised by the wellknown term banana liquid.

3. Clarity and colorgthe initial untinted e'lossifier being free from turbidity and color- "";at on, lending itself readily to tinting w1th red or pink dyes. w 1

4. Freedom from discoloration; since on standing. especially when exposed to light n trocellulose of low viscosity (referred to below) is not wholly stable and may alter sl'ghtlv with consequent action on some perfume oils to create discoloration. Perfume o ls, when used, should be color-stable under these conditions.

33 5. High gloss; a term meaning that one or two applications of the glossifier will form a coating of the requisite gloss.

6. Adhesion; the coating should possess good adhesion over a reasonable period, mustnot crack, peel, nor be harmed by' prolonged contact with soapy water and various other ordinary household fluids with which the hands often come in contact.

7. Color-stability of aged coatings the thin fi m of glossifier on the finger-nails should not turn yellow or show any other perceptible discoloration within the contemplated period of ex osure and wear.

8. Dye-stability; when dyes are usedto give a shell-pink coloror similartone o'r tint v Application me m 16,

1928. Serial Nb. 293,319."

to the dried coating, the dye should be stable in color value and should not wash out. In a layer so thin as the gloss coating secured by the use of the present glossifier, employing low-viscosity nitrocellulose with its lowered stability (compared with high viscosity nitrocellulose) dyes which are objectionably acted on in the course of time in the dried fihn due to changes taking place in the nitrocellulose, should be avoided.

9. Smoothness of'coating; banana liquid is often used as a slow-drying solvent to smooth out the coating, prevent orange peel and overcome blushing. One minute. drying means the employment of much more volatile solvents with consequent difliculty in securing a perfect film. The solvent vehicle of'the present invention is adapted to yield smoothness and transparency in wholly adequate degree.

In order to obtain a glossifier medium which possesses the highly important prop erty of quick-drying, I find it necessary .to use substantially only highly volatile solvents and to use as the solid gloss-producing material practically only nitrocellulose, preferably of low viscosity, without material additions of resins, drying oils and various other substances such as are usually put into various nitrocellulose coatingcompositions. The solvents available also are restricted in numher because I aim to use only solvents having practically no odor, or, at most, possessing a mildly odorous nature, capable of being masked by the employment of a modicum of a perfuming agent. A further limitation with respect to the solvent is that preferably y it should be of a pale or water-white transparent nature and possessing'a light-stable quality. This eliminates certain solvents such as mesityl oxide, and the like, which I darken badly on exposure to sunlight. Furthermore, the solvents employed should not contain objectionable impurities or substances which will afi'ect the color or the gloss-producing solids used in the glossifier composition.

Theserequirements therefore preclude the use of a great number of solvents employe in industrial nitrocellulose solutions, especially such solvents as butyl and amyl alcohols and their esters which compose the bulk of the so-called banana oil. The use of many other heavier solvents is likewise precluded because of their slow rate of evaporation. Thus, there are certain solvents obtained from glycol such as the mono ethyl ether of ethylene glycol which, while not possessing an odor, are so slow in drying that they do not provide a glossifier meeting my very restricted specifications.

Furthermore, the employment of any substantial proportion of ketones of low boiling point, such as acetone and methyl ethyl ketone, is objectionable because these solvents are not sufficiently perfume-responsive due to their penetrating odors. The esters of the lower alcohols such as methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, and the like, also are not adequately perfume-responsive. Relatively small proportions of some of these which yield good solvents for nitrocellulose, but are lacking in perfume-responsiveness, may, however, be used, provided the content of these highly volatile moderately odorous U solvents does not exceed the erfume-responsiveness limit. The most satisfactory vehicle for the nitrocellulose, I find to be anhydrous ethyl alcohol. It is, however, a poor solvent for nitrocellulose, especially for those grades of low-viscosity nitrocellulose which are stable to light. There are certain nitrocellu loses which are more soluble in ethyl alcohol, but these I have observed are more readily discolored by light. Hence, a solution made with such light-stable nitrocellulose on standing on the shelves exposed to light for some time is likely to change color and be rejected by the prospective user.

In order to fortify the anhydrous ethyl alcohol to make it'more generally applicable for the employment of light-stable nitrocellulose of low viscosity, I use a strengthening solvent fortifier such as anhydrous methyl alcohol or methanol and preferably employ it only to the extent of from 10 to 20 per cent of the total volume of the total solvent vehicle. Thus, I may use fromc80 to 90 parts by volume of anhydrous ethyl alcohol and 10 to 20 parts of anhydrous methyl alcohol. Using this as a fortifier in the low proportions stated, .I am able to make a nitrocellulose solution containing a sufficiently high content of nitrocellulose solids that I can secure a good coating and high gloss with only one ap lication to the finger nails.

11 addition to ethyl alcohol, I may sometimes employ isop'ropyl and tertiary butyl alcohols, either alone or in admixture with ethyl alcohol as the major alcoholic basis and employ with these a proportion of methanol or other fortifier adequate to convey the requisite solvent properties on nitrocellulose. The anhydrous ethyl alcohol is, however, milder 1n odor than either the isopropyl or toluol, or even in some cases, low boiling point petroleum hydrocarbons. The employment of hydrocarbons, especially of the aromatic series, sometimes enables a better solution of the nitrocellulose and the deposition of smoother and more glossy films, especially when used in conjunction with ethyl alcohol and a fortifier, as aforesaid.

A solvent vehicle suitable for the purpose is made from the following approximate proportions by volume.

Parts Anhydrous ethyl alcohol 80 Anhydrous methyl alcohol l5 Toluol 5 Light gasoline distillate 4 Ethyl acetate 6 Using 80 to 90 parts by'weight of this solvent vehicle, I dissolve therein from 10 to 15 parts of nitrocellulose of a viscosity preferably one-half second or lower.

Compositions made according to the foregoing being free from resins and substances retarding evaporation, will be found to dry in less than one minute when applied by means of a small brush to the finger nails in a layer of customary coating thickness. On drying, clear transparent films possessing high gloss and adequate adhesion result. During the entire drying period the odor is so mild as to be negligible and there is no retention of slow drying substances having an objectionable odor, such as result from the customary use in the lacquer industry of various high-boiling solvents. 5

As previously stated, perfumes employed in the foregoing perfume-responsive vehicle should be light-stable. I have found that various essential oils offered as perfumes turn yellow or brown in solution on exposure to light and in the nitro-cellulose films on thethat the coating on the nails be thoroughly transparent, hence any substance which.

causes blushing should be avoided. I have found that several of the rose perfumes such as oil of rose in well refined form are. sufliciently light-stable to be used in a glossifier of the type illustrated herein. In view of the perfume-responsive character of the vehicle the proportion of oil of rose required is small,

but can, of course, be varied in accordance with individual requirements. In any event, only a modicum of the oil of rose is required, as for example, 10 to 20 drops of the oil in 12 to 16 fluid ounces of the glossifier.

The dye or coloring matter previouslyreferred to preferably should be present in proportion suflicient to give a flesh-pink or shellpink color or a stronger pinkish or reddish coloration, as desired. Other tones or tints may be employed, as desired, but pink or rose colors are generally preferable. Only such dyes should be used as are unaffected by water and other compounds w th which the hands may come in contact. The dye also should be as chemically inert as possible and should be compatible with the other ingreclients of the, glossifier.

Thus, there is obtained a finger nail glossifier comprising nitrocellulose of approximately not over one-half second viscosity. a

modicum of a perfume oil color-stable in the presence of low viscositynitrocellulose and a substantially color-stable dye, producing a shell-pink or rose-pink tint in the dried coating, all dissolved in a perfume-responsive solvent vehicle substantially free from banana oil and comprising ethyl alcohol as the major solvent and a mixture of other volatile solvents within the perfume-responsive range as the minor solvent; said glossifier when applied to the finger nails as a layer of gloss-producing thickness drying in a period of less than one minute to a smooth glossy transparent coating free from orange peel defacement.

Many volatile solvent mixtures produce a rippling of the surface which is known as orange peel and the absence of this effect in the composition aforesaid makes the composition particularly desirable as a finger nail glossifier.

It should be noted that the employment of nitrocellulose of high viscosity under such circumstances does not yield a sufficient content of solid material to enable high gloss to be developed. Moreover, the very thick heavy-bodied compositions resulting from the high viscosity nitrocellulose cannot be applied very smoothly, especially when highly volatile solvent vehicles are used. The composition therefore revolves about the employment of nitrocellulose of low viscosity, usually of a rating less than one second, and preferably of a rating less than one-half second. Solvents'which are highly volatile such as methyl and ethyl alcohol and acetone yield solutions of a minimum of viscosity,

whereas, the introduction of various highboiling solvents of a water-eliminating character tend to increase the viscosity. Since, as indicated, a maximum content of solid material is desired in order to create adequate gloss with one application the low viscosity nitrocellulose and the highly volatile solvents aforesaid cooperate in securing this result. The concentration should not, however, be so high that the flowing and drying qualities are impaired yielding irregular films which are not sufficiently smooth to be practicable. Neither should the concentration be so low that one has to apply several coats to attain the desired glossy finish. I preferably emone-fourth second viscosity is the following:

A solvent vehicle was prepared in approximately the following proportions, these being parts by volume:

Parts Anhydrous ethyl alcohol 56 Anhydrous methyl alcohoL- 3 Acetone i 8 Ethyl acetate 4 Light gasoline distillate 3 Toluol 4 Likewise, in some cases solvents of higher boiling point may be employed in-small proportions, the solvent vehicle being made as follows, expressed in parts by volume.

Parts Anhydrous ethyl alcohol 57 Ethyl acetate 9 Anhydrous methyl alcohol 2 To uol a- 4 Light gasoline distillate 3.

20 parts by weight of nitrocellulose of onefourth second viscosity was dissolved in 80 parts by weight of this solventvehicle, the fiitlrocellulose containing 30 per cent of alco- Both the compositions last mentioned are perfume-responsive and capable of carrying dyes, asdescribed. I

A glossifier which is free from hydrocarbons may be made in the following manner:

Nitrocellulose of one-fourth second viscosity containing 30 per cent of alcohol is dissolved in a mixture of 85 volumes of anhydrous ethyl alcohol and 15 volumes of acetone. The nitrocellulose content may range from 10 to 19 per cent. Another composition may be made in like manner by using ethyl acetate in lieu of acetone. These solutions dry to a Ill clear transparent and glossy coating on the finger nail. If 95 per cent ethyl alcohol is used, opaque or milky coatings result.

Still another glossifier Was made from the one-fourth second viscosity nitrocellulose dissolved in a mixture of 80 volumes of 98 per cent isopropyl alcohol and 20 volumes of ethyl acetate. Replacement with acetone of one-half of the ethyl acetate used in the last mentioned formula caused severe blushing.

What I claim is 1. A finger-nail glossifier comprising nitrocellulose of approximately not over one half-second viscosity, a modicum of a perfume oil color-stable in the presence of low viscosity nitrocellulose and a substantially color-stable dye producing a shell-pink tint in the dried coating, all dissolved in a perfume-responsive solvent vehicle substantially free from banana oil and comprising ethyl alcohol as the major solvent and a mixture of other volatile solvents Within the perfume-responsive range as the minor solvent; said glossifier when applied to the finger nails as a layer of gloss-producing thickness dry ing in a period ofless than one minute to a smooth glossy transparent coating free from orange peel defacement.

2. A finger nail glossifier comprising nitrocellulose of approximately not over one half second viscosity, a modicum of a perfume oil color-stable in the presence of lowviscosity nitrocellulose, dissolved in a perfume-responsive solvent vehicle substantially free from banana oil and comprising ethyl alcohol as the major solvent and a mixture of other volatile solvents Within the perfumeresponsive range as'the minor solvent; said glossifier when applied to the finger nails as a layer of gloss-producing thick mess drying in a period of less than one minute to a smooth glossy transparent coating free from orange peel defacement.

3. A finger nail glossifier composition consisting of low viscosity nitrocellulose dissolved in substantially anhydrous ethyl alcohol and synthetic methanol in proport ons to yield a substantially blush-free coating on drying.

4:. A finger nail glos sifier composition comprising low viscosity ntrocellulose and a composite solvent including ethyl alcohol and methyl alcohol, the proport ons of these alcohols in the solvent being from to parts by volume of ethyl'alcohol to 20 to 10 parts of methyl alcohol.

5. A finger nail glossifier composition comprising .lOW viscosity nitrocellulose. an aliphatic alcohol selected from the group consisting of substantially anhydrous ethyl alcoho1,isopropyl alcohol and tert ary butyl alco- 1101, and a supplement ng fortifying solvent.

THEODORE F. BRADLEY. 

